When we saw this 1965 Coronet drag car for sale on RacingJunk it struck us as a cool and very clean nod to the cars that terrorized drag strips in the middle 1960s with modern touches. It obviously has some serious rubber out back and the way it is launching in the wheels up photo had us thinking that the suspension was full boogie too. What we weren’t expecting was to see an all aluminum Keith Black hemi in the front with Stage V heads, a sheet metal tunnel ram, and two mondo carbs on top.
The seller claims that the car has run down into the 8.70s, which is hauling for a naturally aspirated car that has some heft to it. Looking at the list of parts and pieces that went into this thing, no expense was spared when it was built. From the KB block, Stage V heads, Jesel valvetrain, Sonny Bryant crank, twin race prepped Dominators, and Hogan sheetmetal intake, this 1100hp naturally aspirated beast is ready for battle!
The trans is a full tilt Chrysler 727 unit built by Pro Trans. It has a ‘brake in it and is hooked to the motor with a 5500 stall torque converter. The cage is certified to 8.50 so there is plenty of room for bettering the current 8.70 best ET. The suspension uses Lamb double adjustable shocks front and back, Strange brakes, and a sheetmetal 9-inch Ford style rear with 4.88 gears and 40-spline Moser axles. The ad does not say what the car weighs, but we’re betting that it is not a flyweight.
The fact that the car is show quality kind of speaks for itself.
We’d want it even without the hemi, but seeing that big lump in there has our little hearts a flutter! DO WANT!
Scroll down for photos of the car and a link to the RacingJunk ad!
RacingJunk Link: A KB Hemi powered 1965 Coronet!
“Have almost $200,000 in car.”
DADGUM! He’s losing nearly 3/4ths of his “investment” (assuming it sells for the $55,000 list price).
While it’s undoubtedly a “sub-zero” cool car, I’d like it better without all the “modern” touches (aero snorkle scoop, newer-style wheels, sheet metal intake etc.) And I suspect I’d have just as much fun with a $25,000 car as a formerly $200,000 one.
How is that car even remotely worth 200k? There’s a sucker born every minute I guess.
Sadly, if you’re buying new, pro-quality parts and having them installed by professionals, with additional custom work, the tab adds up quickly. But then if one of the Detroit automakers built it as a one-off, it’d likely be 2-3 times as much . . . .
A resourceful Bangshifter who does most of his own work could build it for substantially less actual cash outlay. $200,000 is possibly an estimate including unpaid build time at pro-shop rates. Or it could just be “puffing” to make the $55,000 price look more like a “deal.” Who knows?